Pro Sports Blogging » Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com
24/7 Real Sports TalkThu, 26 Feb 2015 04:06:23 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2Can the Falcons beat the Titans?http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/18/can-the-falcons-beat-the-titans/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/18/can-the-falcons-beat-the-titans/#commentsFri, 18 Nov 2011 14:48:05 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=70394I didn’t get to see the end of the Falcons’ game last week, simply because I had been watching the game on my phone and it died after the Falcons’ first overtime possession. So I went several more hours not even knowing the result of the game, and didn’t find out how that result came [...]]]>

I didn’t get to see the end of the Falcons’ game last week, simply because I had been watching the game on my phone and it died after the Falcons’ first overtime possession. So I went several more hours not even knowing the result of the game, and didn’t find out how that result came until Monday.

I was kind of glad that I was spared the horror of that 4th and inches call by Mike Smith.

But today’s a new week, and the Falcons’ have a new task; let’s not focus on winning the division (that hope could be lost) and let’s make it into the playoffs and try to pull off a season like the Packers did last season.

The Falcons’ defense has struggled to get pressure on the QBs who have beat us this season. Most of our games have been close, with the exception of Week 1. Because of this, we have allowed good QBs (Cutler, Rodgers, Freeman, Brees) to make some good throws when we have a good enough secondary that could stop them all game if they could. Ray Edwards has been a slight disappointment, but the blame isn’t all on him. John Abraham has to step up as well. The defensive line has a whole needs to step up.

More importantly however, our offense needs to step up its’ scoring efficiency. If we had converted those long drives into touchdowns instead of field goals, we would have won that game against the Saints in regulation. But several field goals attempts before we even got a touchdown doomed our chances at winning. Truthfully, our defense did its job when we needed it to the most, but you can’t rely on a defense when going against Drew Brees.

Now onto this week. We’re taking on the Titans, which are kind of in the same boat we are in. Our stats look better than the Titans on paper, but we have to capitalize on scoring when we have the chance. The set up for this game is similar to the Colts. We have a great running attack, while the Titans aren’t so good at stopping the run. So what should we fans expect? Run, run, run. Jacquizz Rodgers has started to look good, and Michael Turner is good as always. Jason Snelling and Mike Cox are filling in nicely for Ovie Mughelli.

The problem may come with passing the ball. Matt Ryan isn’t looking particularly good this season, with more picks than he should have. This week could be bad also because Julio Jones is listed as questionable. Harry Douglass has done a fantastic job has his backup, but I’d rather had Douglas as the 3WR because there’s not much quality depth behind him (even though I’m waiting to see Kerry Meier get his chance). I hope Matt Ryan practiced extra hard on his accuracy this week, because we need him.

Prediction:
Expect the Falcons’ to run the ball and exploit the Titans’ run defense. This should be a good week for that. Also, let’s hope Matt Ryan can get back on track and let’s hope his WR will catch the ball. We also need to score touchdowns when we can.

Falcons 31, Titans 21

PS: Oh yeah, if we lose this game, we may not make it to the playoffs this year.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/18/can-the-falcons-beat-the-titans/feed/0Falcons Take On The Saintshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/11/falcons-take-on-the-saints/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/11/falcons-take-on-the-saints/#commentsFri, 11 Nov 2011 14:47:44 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=69851This weekend is a big game for the Falcons and the Falcons’ fans. We take on our rivals, the New Orleans Saints. This rivalry has been heated for years, but now that both the Falcons and the Saints are playing good football, the rivalry has taken on a whole ‘nother degree of intensity. The Saints [...]]]>

This weekend is a big game for the Falcons and the Falcons’ fans. We take on our rivals, the New Orleans Saints. This rivalry has been heated for years, but now that both the Falcons and the Saints are playing good football, the rivalry has taken on a whole ‘nother degree of intensity. The Saints have been the better team, making it to the Super Bowl and winning it not too long ago. The Falcons had the best record in the NFC last year and are looking to get close to that record again this year. Most importantly though, this game decides who will be in first place in the NFC South.

I read on Twitter that someone predicted the Falcons to win 24-23. I like that score, but I would give the Falcons another touchdown. Why? The Falcons have one of the best red zone scoring offenses in the NFL. The Saints have THE worst red zone defense in the NFL. I always thought that the Saints had a highpowered offense but an average to below-average defense. This year, the Saints’ offense doesn’t look as threatening as it did in years past. They have gotten better at the role formerly used by Reggie Bush by adding scat back Darren Sproles. He leads the Saints in rushing and in receptions. The Falcons’ linebackers will have to contain him. Also dangerous is the tight end Jimmy Graham, who Drew Brees will look for often. Other than that, the receivers for the Saints are good but can be contained by Grimes and Robinson.

The Falcons are playing better for several reasons. One reason is that the Falcons have gotten back to what they do best; running the ball. Michael Turner is running well and Jacquizz Rodgers is easing into his scat back role. This has allowed Matt Ryan to throw the ball and become more of a game manager than a QB that has to rely on his arm the entire game. Juliooooo Jones had a monster game last week, linking up with Ryan for a 50 yard TD and an 80 yard TD. He has shown incredible speed and incredible hands, this after he was said to need work on his hands. The Saints will have to contain Julio, which will allow Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez to get open.

This game is shaping up to look good for the Falcons. I think that the Falcons have more weapons than the Saints, and can better defend the Saints’ weapons than the Saints can defend ours. Also, I believe our defense is better. We should be able to contain the Saints’ running game, which will allow us to use 7-8 players in coverage to shut them down. The key to this victory is to keep Drew Brees on the ground and the ball out of his hands, even though I believe Brees is not as good this year as he used to be.

Prediction:

Expect the Falcons to stick to the formula they’ve been winning with. Michael Turner should have a 100-yard game and our defense should have fun with the Saints’ offense.

Falcons 28, Saints 24

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/11/falcons-take-on-the-saints/feed/0Falcons Take on the Coltshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/05/falcons-take-on-the-colts/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/05/falcons-take-on-the-colts/#commentsSat, 05 Nov 2011 17:02:50 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=69215It’s been a good bye week for the Falcons. They’re coming off a victory against one of the NFL’s surprise team, the Detroit Lions. The Falcons’ record is above .500, which is good considering we had been at .500 or below all season. And luckily for the Falcons, this next stretch of games looks like [...]]]>

It’s been a good bye week for the Falcons. They’re coming off a victory against one of the NFL’s surprise team, the Detroit Lions. The Falcons’ record is above .500, which is good considering we had been at .500 or below all season. And luckily for the Falcons, this next stretch of games looks like a good time to improve their record. They have the Colts, Saints (at home), Titans (at home), and Vikings all coming up. The Falcons’ could very well be 8-3 in a couple of weeks. But for now, let’s talk about the upcoming game against the winless Colts.

The Colts of 2011 aren’t the Colts we’re accustomed to seeing. For one, they’re winless. Two, they haven’t been playing well at all. And oh yeah, something about Peyton Manning being hurt and possibly out for the year.

Are the Colts still a good team? I think so. And no one should think that just because they are winless means that they will stay winless. Odds are that they will win at least one game. There’s only been one 0-16 team in NFL history. I don’t think the Colts will be the second. But let’s just make sure that they don’t get their first win this weekend against our Falcons.

The Falcons should be prepared to run the ball effectively. They have run the ball really well in their past two games, which both resulted in wins. Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers have run nicely and should run well this week against a run defense that ranks near the bottom of the league. The only spot for concern is the fact that our fullback Ovie Mughelli is out for the season. Jason Snelling and new signee Mike Cox will handle fullback duties.

Keys To Victory:

Run the Ball: As stated, the running game will have a good day against a bad run defense.

Return of Julio: Julio Jones should be making a return to the Falcons after missing two games with a hamstring injury. He shouldn’t be much of a factor today if the Falcons stick to running the ball.

Contain the Colts pass rush: Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are one of the best pass rushers in the game. They must be the contained if Matt Ryan is expected to throw efficiently.

Get after the QB: The QB for the Colts will be Christian Painter, who is making his 7th NFL start. It hasn’t been good for him so far and don’t expect this game to be good for him either.

Prediction:

Falcons should have a good day against the Colts. As long as they don’t get too comfortable like they did against the Seahawks, they should have no trouble and move on to 5-3.

Falcons 31, Colts 10

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/11/05/falcons-take-on-the-colts/feed/0Falcons vs Lions: Why the Dirty Birds Will Winhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/21/falcons-vs-lions-why-the-dirty-birds-will-win/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/21/falcons-vs-lions-why-the-dirty-birds-will-win/#commentsFri, 21 Oct 2011 14:55:12 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=67679Dirty Birds versus the Ferocious Felines. The Lions have been the NFL’s surprise team this year. But I had a feeling they would be good. A couple of early draft picks several years in a row usually builds a fantastic team a few years later. That’s how good teams rebuild (especially after 0-16 seasons). That’s [...]]]>

Dirty Birds versus the Ferocious Felines. The Lions have been the NFL’s surprise team this year. But I had a feeling they would be good. A couple of early draft picks several years in a row usually builds a fantastic team a few years later. That’s how good teams rebuild (especially after 0-16 seasons). That’s what the Lions did. I have been cheering for them this season, and took a minor blow when they lost last week.

But that loss last week may be beneficial to my home team and the important team here, the Falcons. The 49ers showed last week how to beat the Lions. Well in actuality, the Lions have almost been beat several times this season, but Stafford keeps bringing them to victory.

One key thing about the Lions is that they aren’t good at two important things. They do not run very well and they do not stop the run very well. In today’s NFL, some may think that this isn’t a big deal because the league is focused more toward passing now. However, when a team comes in that is built around the run, then problems arise. This is one key advantage that the Falcons have over the Lions. Michael Turner, Jason Snelling, and Jacquizz Rodgers should be utilized immensely, which will allow Matt Ryan to get some good looks downfield.

Defensively for the Falcons, the lack of a Lions run game should allow the Falcons to stay in coverage and focus on keep Stafford and Megatron (Calvin Johnson) from putting up big numbers. However, as we have seen all year, the Falcons’ zone defense needs some work. I personally think they should play more Man Defense or at least a modified Cover 2-Man defense but we’ll see how well their modified-Tampa 2 defense works on Sunday.

Keys to Victory:

Time for the Quizz: Jacquizz Rodgers has seen limited action, but he is second on the team in rushing. With Michael Turner getting a heavy workload this week just like last week, expect Rodgers to see more action. Snelling should get some action too of course.

Julio’s health: The proper thing to do would be to rest Julio this week, because the Falcons’ won last week without him and he has been limited in practice this week. However, I think he should play, although limited. The Falcons’ should focus on the run this week, so Julio should be given some outside throws where he can catch and get out of bounds and rest that hamstring.

Brent Grimes, the Hopster: Brent Grimes may have the hops to jump over most receivers in the NFL, but he’s never faced a player like Calvin Johnson aka MegaTron. Johnson has a long body, crazy vertical, and fantastic hands. However, the Falcons should be in zone defense majority of the time, so don’t expect a true battle between Johnson and Grimes. I think Grimes should have a nice day Sunday.

Slow down the pass rush: The Lions are notorious for their pass rush skills, and the Falcons may be without Sam Baker. Expect for chip blocks from the Falcons’ Tight Ends and Running Backs and then Matt Ryan checking down to them to get rid of the ball quickly. But hopefully we’ll run the ball nicely.

Prediction:

Most sites I’ve read have the Falcons winning this week. I agree with them. The Falcons seem to be back on track and the Lions are coming off an emotional loss. The Falcons’ keys to winning are also the Lions’ weaknesses. Expect heavy doses of Turner and his crew.

Falcons 28, Lions 16

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/21/falcons-vs-lions-why-the-dirty-birds-will-win/feed/0Falcons’ 2nd Half Offense Comes to Life, Secure Winhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/17/falcons-2nd-half-offense-comes-to-life-secure-win/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/17/falcons-2nd-half-offense-comes-to-life-secure-win/#commentsMon, 17 Oct 2011 13:44:30 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=67092This had been the story for at least two of the Falcons’ losses and at least one of their wins: The Falcons score some points in the first half, and then score little to none in the second half. Today however, that changed. Thankfully. The Carolina Panthers and their prized rookie came into town looking [...]]]>

This had been the story for at least two of the Falcons’ losses and at least one of their wins: The Falcons score some points in the first half, and then score little to none in the second half.

Today however, that changed. Thankfully.

The Carolina Panthers and their prized rookie came into town looking for their 2nd win of the season. And they were poised to win. But good teams beat who they are supposed to beat, and the Falcons are a good team.

There’s not much I can complain about following a 14-point victory, but it was a little scary to see the Panthers leading in the 2nd half. Knowing how the Falcons have been playing this season, I was afraid this game would get away from us. But fortunately for the Falcons, good players make good plays.

At the end of the 2nd quarter, William Moore tipped a pass that probably would’ve been a touchdown for the Panthers, and Brent Grimes (one of my favorite players) went up and intercepted that ball over Steve Smith. This preserved a Falcons’ lead going into halftime, with the Panthers getting the ball back after halftime. If the Panthers had scored that touchdown, the 2nd half might have been different because the Falcons would have been playing catch-up. The Falcons’ don’t look that good in those situations if you haven’t noticed.

But the Panthers weren’t done. In the 3rd quarter, after a long drive in which the Panthers used up much clock by converting 3rd downs (the converted 8 of their first 9 3rd downs), Cam Newton scored on a 14 yard run to give the Panthers the lead. After watching his Deion Sanders impersonation, I was left hoping that the Falcons wouldn’t stay behind and that they would generate some offense. Fortunately they did.

The Falcon marched back down the field and tied the game at 17-17 with a Matt Bryant field goal. Then the Falcons defense came back strong, forcing a 3 and out for the Panthers and giving the ball back to the Falcons. And the Falcons suddenly remembered how to play 2nd half football. They were faced with a 3rd and 12, and Matt Ryan stood tall in the pocket. The Panthers sent a blitz up the middle and that blitzer hit Matt Ryan, but Matt Ryan got a perfect throw off before the hit and found Harry Douglas for a 34 yard gain. A couple plays later, the Falcons scored on a 1-yard run by Matt Ryan.

The Panthers were back on the field, but I don’t know who expected this next play. Cam Newton set the Panthers up for a screen play, but Defensive Tackle Corey Peters read the screen and made a ONE-HANDED interception which led to a Michael Turner touchdown late in the game to secure the victory. The Falcons also got another interception at the end of the game by Thomas Decoud.

Key Points:

Turner got the ball rolling: The Falcons needed to get the ground game going, and they did. Michael Turner rushed for 139 yard on 27 carries and the Falcons got back to what they do best. Matt Ryan also had a couple of runs and Jacquizz Rodgers had one also.

Matt Bosher can kick: Rookie Punter Bosher has been criticized lately for his lack of good punting, but today he looking good on punting and kickoffs.

Offensive line blocks/Defensive line sacks: The o-line only gave up one sack, while our d-line recorded two sacks on Newton.

Matt Ryan: He didn’t put up the big numbers, but he was sharp as ever, making good throws when he needed to and managing a good football game.

Next week, Falcons head to Detroit to take on the 5-1 (yes they lost this week) Lions.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/17/falcons-2nd-half-offense-comes-to-life-secure-win/feed/2Slacking Falcons Play Panthers This Weekendhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/13/slacking-falcons-play-panthers-this-weekend/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/13/slacking-falcons-play-panthers-this-weekend/#commentsThu, 13 Oct 2011 22:51:38 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=66731We all figured the Panthers wouldn’t have a good record by the time Week Six came. I don’t think we would guess that the Falcons would be only one win above them at the same time. The Falcons are playing uninspired football, after being the NFC’s best team last year. They are 2-3, and two [...]]]>

We all figured the Panthers wouldn’t have a good record by the time Week Six came. I don’t think we would guess that the Falcons would be only one win above them at the same time.

The Falcons are playing uninspired football, after being the NFC’s best team last year. They are 2-3, and two of those games they would have won if they had some kind of offense.

The cause of the problem is not clear. I do know that the cause lies within the offense. Some of the initial problems have been fixed: For example, the offensive line finally remembered how to block. The line has only given up one sack in the past two games. So if the line is blocking well, why isn’t the offense performing great?

First off, the running game has slowed down. Michael Turner hasn’t gotten 100 yards since the Eagles game. And this Atlanta offense is based around running the ball to set up the pass. The pass hasn’t been able to flourish because defenses aren’t loading the box with defenders to stop the run.

Secondly, penalties are killing the Falcons. They were the least-penalized team last year with 58 penalties. This year, they have 32 already. A lot of the penalties have been unnecessary. We’ve got to stop that.

Thirdly, play-calling is killing us. This goes for offense and defense. Mularkey and Van Gorder need to get more creative with play-calling. On the offensive side, we have seen Matt Ryan call some good plays out of the no-huddle, but you can’t rely on the No Huddle all game long. Fix the play-calling, or bad things will happen to us.

But back to the task at hand. The Carolina Panthers have been playing good football, but they are just coming up short in games. As you all should know, Rookie QB Cam Newton is playing like a second- or third-year player. He makes some mistakes at times, but he makes up for them but fantastic plays. WR Steve Smith is playing at a high level once again. The Panthers may be 1-4, but they are playing like they are 3-2.

So how do we stop the Panthers from embarrassing us this weekend?

Keys to Victory:

Pick up in the passing game: Julio Jones is out for the game, so other WRs such as Eric Weems and Kerry Meier have to step their game up. Eric Weems will probably move into Julio Jones place and keep Harry Douglas in the slot. Roddy White must catch crucial passes.

Pick up in the running game: Michael Turner, Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers have to get going. Nothing else to say here. The offensive line is playing better so the RBs need to take advantage.

Keep playing good defense/special teams: I loved the Falcons play on defense last week, limiting the Packers to 25 points but giving our offense chances to win. Aaron Rodgers had a clinic out there when it came to yardage, but a lack of running game and lack of touchdown efficiency limited the Packers. This means that the Falcons should do better when playing other QBs (because not every QB is a Aaron Rodgers type of player)

Prediction:

Falcons are playing bad. Panthers are playing worse. If the Falcons remember how to play offense in the second half, then we’ll win.

Falcons 28, Panthers 17

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/13/slacking-falcons-play-panthers-this-weekend/feed/1Falcons Welcome the Pack into Townhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/07/falcons-welcome-the-pack-into-town/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/07/falcons-welcome-the-pack-into-town/#commentsFri, 07 Oct 2011 22:03:31 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=66083The Falcons’ game last week was ugly. Well at least it was ugly at the end. But the Falcons won in the end, so that’s all that matters right? Not necessarily. The Falcons should have ended on a good note considering who they’re playing this week. And they just happen to be playing the Super [...]]]>

The Falcons’ game last week was ugly. Well at least it was ugly at the end. But the Falcons won in the end, so that’s all that matters right? Not necessarily. The Falcons should have ended on a good note considering who they’re playing this week. And they just happen to be playing the Super Bowl Champs this week.

But the Falcons’ have something to play for this week. As we all remember, the Falcons’ got embarrassed in the first round of the divisional playoffs last season by none other than Green Bay. That gives the Falcons enough motivation to upset the Champs. Which I think is possible. I don’t follow Green Bay much, but every team is beatable. Even high-powered offenses and great defenses. I do recall that the Falcons have an explosive offense of their own, even if it hasn’t been utilized much this season.

The Falcons, at 2-2, have lost two games they should have won, beaten a team they should have beat, and beaten another team that many predicted would beat the Falcons. You all can figure out who those teams were. The offense has been a slight disappointment, mainly because off our offensive line’s struggles. The defense has been solid at times but there have been plenty of breakdowns in coverage. Last week’s first half against the Seahawks was a perfect example of our Falcons’ football is supposed to be. The second half of last week is exactly how it has been the first four weeks: Bad.

The Packers are 4-0 and Aaron Rodgers is having another good year. He is tearing apart defenses with a pass-happy offense and always looks good. The Falcons’ defense needs to minimize breakdown in their coverage or otherwise Rodgers will have another easy game. The Packers’ run game has been mild, but this has been true for several seasons now.

Keys To Victory:

Get Julio The Ball!: I say this every week, and I’ll say it again. Julio Jones had his second consecutive 100 yard game and led the Falcons’ receivers. He is terrific in Yards After Catch and in getting open downfield. If the Packers shift coverage to him, then expect Roddy White to be open, which leads to my next point..

Roddy White has got to be clutch: The past two weeks, Roddy White has dropped easy catches. The good news is that he is acknowledging this and he should be working to be better. Expect him to catch more balls because coverage should be on Julio Jones, which leads to..

The other Falcons’ weapons should be good: Tony Gonzalez looks good this year, and Michael Turner/Jason Snelling/Jacquizz Rodgers have been catching passes out of the backfield. The offensive line should be playing as well as they did last week, so Ryan should have time and Turner should be getting some good runs off.

Defense must tighten up: We let Tavaris Jackson look like a future HOF’er last week. Who knows if he will be in the future, but right now he isn’t. And Aaron Rodgers is playing like he is good now. So we have to do better in coverage this week.

Prediction:

This is a tough call. I don’t quite know if the Falcons will be ready for this match up, but I do believe they will be motivated enough for the win. Expect an offensive duel between the Falcons and Packers. I have to give it to my team to pull off an upset.

Falcons 35, Packers 32

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/07/falcons-welcome-the-pack-into-town/feed/0Falcons hold off Seahawks, win 30-28http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/03/falcons-hold-off-seahawks-win-30-28/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/03/falcons-hold-off-seahawks-win-30-28/#commentsMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:06:01 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=65599It’s always good to get a win. It’s not so good when your team has a chance to lose the game in the final seconds. And fortunately the Falcons didn’t let the lowly Seahawks pull off a comeback, when other teams in the league did pull off comebacks. Either way, a win is a win. [...]]]>

It’s always good to get a win. It’s not so good when your team has a chance to lose the game in the final seconds. And fortunately the Falcons didn’t let the lowly Seahawks pull off a comeback, when other teams in the league did pull off comebacks.

Either way, a win is a win. Falcons are 2-2.

The first half looked impressive for the Falcons. They were able to march downfield with ease and the offense put up 24 points. The defense had one bad breakdown in coverage but limited the Seahawks to 7 points. But this was just the first half.

The second half started good. On the Falcons first play, Matt Ryan connected with Julio Jones for a 45 yard gain. They were able to get a 50 yard field goal from Matt Bryant and the score was 27-7. However, from that point on, the Falcons looked BAD.

They let Tavaris Jackson carve up the Falcons defense and he engineered 3 touchdown drives in the second half to bring the score to 30-28. His no-huddle offense looked superb in he put his team in position to win. However, the Falcons rose up to the challenge and prevent the Seahawks from winning. But not without some suspense.

The Seahawks drove down the field on their final possession and made it down to the Atlanta 43 yard line with 15 seconds left. The field goal unit for Seattle came onto the field, and the Falcons called a timeout to ice the kicker. I don’t know if it worked or not, but the Seahawks missed the 61-yard field goal and the Falcons got the ball back with 8 seconds left and the game in their pocket.

These Falcons looked like the ones we know and love, the ones that keep you into the game by causing some drama and then pulling off a victory at the end. Just like last season. The Falcons now head back home to play Green Bay (4-0) in the Dome.

Key Points:

Julio Got The Ball!: And guess what, good things happened. Julio lead the receivers with 11 catches for 127 yards. He looked like a veteran out there, and could be a contender for offensive Rookie of the Year if he keeps this up.

Roddy White forgets how to catch the ball in the 4th quarter: If Roddy White can catch the ball in the clutch, we might have won last week and we might have put the game away earlier this week. White has got to step it up, but at least his counterpart in Julio is making plays, leaving White open.

The offensive line can block!: They gave up no sacks this game, which is a good sign. Sure Matt Ryan did more scrambling than he should have, but at least they protected him better.

Michael Turner stuffed: 70 yards on 26 carries. 2 touchdowns, but only 70 yards. He’s got to do better, but it could be the o-line’s fault also.

Next week the Falcons take on the Packers. I can’t wait!

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/03/falcons-hold-off-seahawks-win-30-28/feed/0Falcons vs Seahawks: Must win for Falconshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/01/falcons-vs-seahawks-must-win-for-falcons/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/01/falcons-vs-seahawks-must-win-for-falcons/#commentsSat, 01 Oct 2011 14:57:40 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=65348It’s time for another sports weekend and unfortunately the city of Atlanta is too happy this week (let’s blame the Braves for that). But let’s hope the Falcons can bring some energy back into this city. And the energy isn’t just needed in Atlanta; it’s needed in the Falcons’ organization as well. Last week was [...]]]>

It’s time for another sports weekend and unfortunately the city of Atlanta is too happy this week (let’s blame the Braves for that).

But let’s hope the Falcons can bring some energy back into this city. And the energy isn’t just needed in Atlanta; it’s needed in the Falcons’ organization as well.

Last week was a serious letdown for the Falcons. An offense that was supposed to be high-powered and explosive only mustered 13 points against a Buccaneers’ team that continuously gave the Falcons a chance to win this game. And this loss was primarily on the offensive side’s fault, because the defense limited the Bucs to 16 points.

This week is a must win for the Falcons. We are currently 1-2 and we don’t want to fall two games under .500. We don’t want the league to think that we won’t be a good team this season. We don’t want to have a downward momentum heading into a game against Green Bay. And most importantly, we don’t want to lose against the Seahawks.

Sure the Seahawks may have shocked some people last season, but come on, these are the Seahawks. They went 7-9 last season, no matter what they pulled off in the playoffs. The Falcons beat them handily 34-18 last season in Seattle. The Falcons are returning to Seattle this year, which is home to the NFL’s loudest stadium.

The Seahawks are led by former Viking Tarvaris Jackson, who isn’t one of the best quarterbacks. A concern may be that WR Sidney Rice looks healthy and picked up 108 yards for the Seahawks in their 13-10 victory last week. To prevent Jackson from linking up to Rice, we have to bring a lot of pressure. Jackson has been sacked 14 times this season, which is tied for the most in the league. This is a bit of a surprise, since Jackson is more of a scrambling quarterback. If we put the pressure on him, he may run out of the pocket and force a throw which may lead to a turnover.

Keys To Victory:

Falcons’ o-line must block well: The Falcons, who last year had one of the best offensive lines in the league, are not protecting Matt Ryan well this season. They have come under fire from many in the league and their coaches, so expect them to play better this week.

Ryan’s Weapons: Roddy White is listed as questionable this week, but he should play. Julio Jones had his first 100 yard game last week, and has emerged as a viable option in the clutch. The Falcons should spread the ball around this week and allow Michael Turner to get nice runs.

Turner/Rodgers show: Michael Turner only had 20 yards last week, but the Falcons were in a passing mode for a long time. Jason Snelling is out for the week, so expect the Falcons to utilize back-up RB Jacquizz Rodgers in a bigger role, which may be a key to giving some life into their offense.

Prediction:

The Falcons are not playing well, and neither are the Seahawks. I’m 1-2 with my predictions this year, but the Falcons should pull this win out without too many problems.

Falcons 28, Seahawks 10

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/10/01/falcons-vs-seahawks-must-win-for-falcons/feed/0“Stupid” Mistakes Cause Falcons to Lose to Bucshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/09/26/stupid-mistakes-cause-falcons-to-lose-to-bucs/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2011/09/26/stupid-mistakes-cause-falcons-to-lose-to-bucs/#commentsMon, 26 Sep 2011 14:41:07 +0000Josh Brownhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=64596It seems like all of the Atlanta sports teams have the same problem. When there is good defense (or pitching for the Braves), then it is bad offense which causes a loss. And vice-versa. And this was true for the Falcons last night in an ugly game in Tampa Bay. But Matt Ryan and his [...]]]>

It seems like all of the Atlanta sports teams have the same problem. When there is good defense (or pitching for the Braves), then it is bad offense which causes a loss. And vice-versa. And this was true for the Falcons last night in an ugly game in Tampa Bay.

But Matt Ryan and his Falcons almost pulled another victory out of their back pocket. They were behind 16-3 in 4th quarter and Ryan engineered a touchdown drive to bring the game within 6 points. Then another Falcons drive brought the Falcons within 3 points, with 4 minutes left in the game.

But unfortunately, the offense never got the ball back. Tampa Bay held on for a 16-13 victory.

Many people will be quick to blame defensive tackle Corey Peters for jumping offsides on a hard count by Tampa Bay on 4th and 1. While it’s true that his penalty ended the game and all hopes of a Falcons’ comeback, it was not his fault that we lost. It was the offense’s.

The Bucs eliminated our running game and held Michael Turner to 20 yards total. Ryan passed for 330 yards and Roddy White and Julio Jones both got 100+ yards receiving. But many times we settled for field goals, unlike last week where we scored touchdown on all our scoring drives.

Back to those “stupid” mistakes that costed us the game. The Corey Peters offsides was already mentioned. There was also the interception that Ryan threw and the two fumbles he lost inside his own 20 yard line.

Key Points:

The offensive line needs work: This offensive line only gave up 9 sacks last season, and they will be nowhere near that number at the end of the season if they continue to play like this. Todd McClure returned to the lineup but the result was the same. Four sacks today.

The defensive line needs more pressure but overall they were good: They didn’t pile up any sacks but they forced Josh Freeman to run out of the pocket a couple of times. They also hit him a couple times. Next week they face another mobile quarterback so keeping containment is a must.

Roddy White must catch catchable balls: While he led the team with 8 receptions, he dropped two easy passes, one of which could have possibly gave Atlanta the lead late in the game. The reigning NFL leader in receptions from last season must catch balls he’s supposed to catch.

Julio Jones is for real: Get him the ball! He bailed the Falcons out on several plays for two weeks in a row. He is the catalyst that this offense needed, but he needs the ball more often to be effective.

Matt Ryan needs to run this offense: Mike Mularkey’s conservative play calling is killing drives. When Matt Ryan runs the no-huddle, our offense seems to click. We should run the no-huddle with Ryan more often.

Falcons WR Julio Jones in the 4th Quarter. Get him the ball! (AP Photo)

Overall, sloppy performance by the Falcons’ offense. Let’s hope next week is better.